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Coochbehar

General Information

During the minority of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan, Coloney Haughton took over the charge of Cooch Behar as Commissioner of the State. He being the chief architect of the State Library, established it in 1870,with a collection of a series of rare books and journals purchased from M/s Rozario & Co. of London. Maharaja Nripendra Narayan Shifted the library to Lansdowne Hall. It was built in 1892 to commemorate the visit to State of Lord Lansdowne Viceroy and Governor-General of India in the year 1895. Prior to that the library was of course, opened for public use in 1882.The State Library was at that time located in the west of the building. Mr. J. W. Trotter in his book, “India under Victoria” writes “The little state of Cooch Behar on Assam border could boast of a library richer than any to be found in Bengal outside Calcutta.